"In what is being seen as rising skepticism over decisions taken by the Akal Takht, a 'world Sikh convention' has been convened on Sep. 14 to discuss the role of the Sikh clergy. This was decided at a meeting held here on Tuesday by a group of Sikh scholars and intellectuals belonging to the World Sikh Council, Sikh Khalsa Panchayat and others led by Gurtej Singh, [S.G.P.C. National Professor] of Sikhism. The meeting urged the [Akal] Takht jathedar to rescind the excommunication of controversial Sikh writer [Gurbakhsh] Singh Kala Afghana. Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti had excommunicated Kala Afghana last week for what was termed as 'blasphemous' writings by him which violated the spirit of gurbani [Sikh scriptures]. Those who attended the meeting included Rajinder Singh of S.K.P., Maj. General (Retd.) Narinder Singh (W.S.C.) and Ajit Singh Bains, a human rights leader."
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